Interim city Police Chief Steve Belcher will not be a sworn law enforcement officer. Its unusual in Asheville. I dont think the city has had a civilian law enforcement executive in the past. I believe Chief Gerald Beavers, in the early 1990s, completed parts of North Carolina basic law enforcement training when he took the job so he could be a sworn officer. He came from Kentucky. Belcher is certified in California and his certification does not completely transfer to North Carolina. He brings tons of experience with a career in Santa Cruz and interim stints across California, including at the troubled department in Bell near Los Angeles. Some large cities, notably NYC, have civilian police commissioners. The city says Belcher might explore becoming certified in North Carolina Does it matter that Belcher will not be a sworn officer right now?
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 15:06:48 +0000